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NONPROFIT WILL BE HONORED BY ASSEMBLYMAN TONY THURMOND ON CALIFORNIA NONPROFITS DAY

Berkeley, June 5, 2018– Berkeley Youth Alternatives (BYA) is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2018 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblyman Tony Thurmond.

Niculia Williams, Executive Director, and Kevin Williams, JD, MPH Associate Director will travel to Sacramento to join with one hundred other nonprofit leaders to be honored by their state senators and assemblymembers during a celebration luncheon as part of California Nonprofits Day on June 6th.

Incorporated in 1971, BYA is one of the largest non-profit organizations annually serving 1700 low-income, “at-risk” children, youth, young adults, and their families in the East Bay. BYA’s holistic services are designed to shift so-called “individuals at-risk” into “individuals with promise” by utilizing a continuum of care approach that emphasizes 3 core areas: Education, Health and Well-Being, and Economic Self-Sufficiency. BYA meets individuals where they are and builds upon any gift, talent or ability that they possess.

“We are truly honored by the recognition and we know that it is due to our volunteers and staff who work daily on behalf of children, youth, and families. We also share this award with our many partners such as the City of Berkeley and Alameda County as well as the philanthropic community and numerous donors who invest in our efforts. We are very thankful for Assemblyman Tony Thurmond who chose Berkeley Youth Alternatives as a Nonprofit of the Year,” comments Kevin Williams.

“Nonprofits make California communities stronger, yet we’re often so busy that we don’t toot our own horns about the work we’re doing,” explains Jan Masaoka, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits). “California Nonprofits Day is an opportunity for our elected officials to recognize the good work they see nonprofits doing in their districts, and it also demonstrates the larger collective impact of nonprofits throughout California.”

Additional Background

California Nonprofits Day, now in its third year, was formally recognized by Assembly Concurrent Resolution 191, authored by the chair of the Assembly Select Committee on the Nonprofit Sector, Assemblywoman Monique Limón (Santa Barbara), who will speak at the celebration luncheon. The day is organized by Assemblymember Limón and CalNonprofits.

According to “Causes Count,” a 2016 report commissioned by CalNonprofits, the nonprofit sector is the 4th largest industry in the state, employing nearly one million people. Each year, California nonprofits generate over $200 billion in revenue and bring in $40 billion in revenue from outside of California. The unpaid labor contributed by volunteers at nonprofits is equivalent to 450,000 full-time jobs every year.